It's Time to Let NY Vote: Cuomo Says Voting Reform a Priority

NEW YORK, NY (12/17/2018) (readMedia)-- Today, Governor Cuomo listed early voting, automatic voter registration, synchronizing federal and state primaries, among others, as some of his top priorities this session.

In response, Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY, issued the following statement:

"While the Let NY Vote coalition is delighted to see Governor Cuomo join us in prioritizing early voting, automatic voter registration and consolidating the primaries, it's imperative that he also works with the Legislature to pass the strongest possible reform package. New Yorkers need at least two weekends to vote early, flexibility to change parties and full restoration of rights for people on parole. It's time to see if a unified Democratic government can truly deliver on progressive voting reforms."

Background:

This year, Let NY Vote, formerly known as Easy Elections NY, formed as a statewide coalition of organizations & grassroots groups fighting to modernize New York's elections. The goal is to pass simple solutions in 2019 to improve our elections and remove barriers to registering and voting for all eligible New Yorkers, such as:

Early Voting: in place in 37 other states, allowing citizens to cast ballots in person days, sometimes weeks, before an election.

Automatic Voter Registration: in place in 16 other states, allows eligible voters to automatically register to vote when they interact with a state agency and provides a vehicle for those agencies to efficiently transfer voter registration information to the Board of Elections.

Flexibility to Change Parties: 49 States have open primaries or allow voters to change their party close to Election Day. New York does neither. Instead, New York has the most restrictive deadline in the country. To participate in the 2018 primary, voters had to register this change more than 6 months earlier, before candidates had even been solidified, disenfranchising up to 3 million registered NY voters.

Consolidation of Primary Dates: Currently New York has two primary days in June and September, confusing voters. New York is the only state with two primaries.